Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

mumto2boys

Morning all, vhalla those latest biscuits of yours are on my menu this weekend, my boys will love them, thankyou.

We have been hit with the school sickness bug this week so not a healthy household, i have had it worse for a change but seem to be over it again now, just a 24 hour thing. Schools are so unhealthy!

I have managed to get a fair bit of knitting done though, am currently busy crafting away for the school summer fair but 1 hat i have knitted so far has been bought before it was even finished on the needles, mustn't grumble but more to knit now , lucky i love to knit

misstara

Morning, hope everyone who feeling unwell gets better soon.

Cheerfulness - your sandals are very pretty, might have to go and have a look next time I'm in town.

Viv - the chocolate and ginger traybake sounds amazing, I think I might make some for my gran for her birthday. Anything that has plain chocolate and ginger in it always is a hit. Obviously I will need to trial it first to do a taste test :rotfl:

Lyn - how annoying, hope your friend is ok.

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Misstara, glad to see you're getting into the knitting. It really does get easier now you've learnt Knit & Pearl. Those were all I was taught and the rest I worked out for myself as I went, even the increasing and decreasing etc. Cable is an absolute joy because it looks so skilled and is so easy.

It took me a while to get the hang of purl stitch but think I've got it now. Ooo must google cable stitch, not heard of that.

cheerfulness4

Look for aran knits, misstara. There are all different ones but they share the same method that you use a separate little needle to hold a few stitches on then knit from.
I explained that terribly but it is very simple. You really will enjoy showing off with that one.

cheerfulness4

Here, misstara, I mean this with no disrespect at all but this link will explain what I fluffed at.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/knitting-cables.html

villagelife

Love the picture of the knitting - also the shoes.

I managed to throw out tons of rubbish from DS1 bedroom. I can see the floor now. Most of his stuff is at Uni as well.

I managed to sow some more seeds - no more tomatoes though.

vhalla1478

Morning Everyone,

I'm unashamedly up late this morning; I haven't got to do much specific today except tidy round and make some lemon curd for DS. He bought some very cheap stuff at 22p which I suspect was made from flavouring and cornflour and tasted disgusting- therefore an uneconomic buy, and has asked me to make him a few jars of the real thing to compensate. Nothing like home made.

Sorry you had a wasted journey, Lynn, even more galling when you had so been looking forward to seeing your friend; maybe there is a very good explanation - if not, how rude.. The 'explosion in a mattress factory' was used about my hair when I was a young teenager and had been rather too enthusiastic about back combing it at school. Another expression that tickles me, although I don't think ( I hope not!) anyone has used it about me, is, when talking of someone who is forthright and undiplomatic, is, 'as subtle as an Exocet missile'.

I'm pleased the biscuit recipe is a thumbs up; as it's a bank holiday weekend, I'll find some more treats for us later today, but need to get on with my rug at some point if I'm going to be anywhere near finishing it this year. I was reading through some of my needlepoint books last night and getting all enthusiastic about it again.

Mistara, I'm no great shakes at knitting, but Cheerfulness is right, cable stitch is dead easy - even I can do it, and the finished result is well worth it. Aran sweaters used to be very fashionable - was that in the eighties, can anyone remind me - and we all used to make them, even me, who is also of the 'take your right hand off the needle with every stitch school'.

Right, I'm rambling on, reminiscing again - a privilege of old age - I must get on. Have a good day whatever you are doing, Folks.

Viv xx

Ps I'm gutted about those sparklies, unless they come in different fittings (?), as I've narrow feet.

silvasava

Vhalla - I still take my hand off the needle too! When I met DH a previous girlfriend had made him a beautiful cable sweater which I accidentally put in too hot a wash (honestly!) He teases me about it but he knows i would never willingly destroy someones handiwork - I tease him back with 'AH - love in every stitch!)
DS1 has bagged a pot of the raspberry jam - came out really well - nice & 'tart' as i like it, probably due to a few loganberries in there too.
Grey day here so being house fairy and cleaning, tidying and maybe some baking. DH has gone down with my cold so I've left him in bed. It will do him good and keep him out of my way lol
I've got some quince part prepared in the freezer & I'm thinking I could maybe use it for a 'mango' type chutney - I'll have a googly later
Have a good day all x

ps: Vhalla - have picked up some nice shoes from time to time in AS*a as they're not too wide and do continental sizes (I'm a 41 which in english is slightly over a 7)

HOWMUCH

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to our newbies, not been on for awhile life things have kept me busy. DD is going through a divorce and needing a little more support than we normally do with DGS, she started a new job at the beginning of April. Well I've informed work that I will be retiring at the end of September when I have 18 completed years into my NHS pension, I'm 60 in July so could claim in then but the extra couple of months and completing another year make it a little more money.
I have finished the Aran sweater for DGS and went with a zip, I will take a photo and post it. We go away on Monday on our bargain break £69.28 for Monday to Friday in North Norfolk in a static caravan, we will use our bus passes to get out and about.
Can not believe the change in the weather and yes we too had a little snow on Tuesday. Not been able to get to many YS things this month and used items from the freezer which is a bonus. So glad that we have a lovely friendly thread of all like minded people and we have more in common than you would believe and I have lots of yes I do that and oh yes I remember that and it makes me giggle.
Have a nice weekend everyone.

teeni

Hello everyone, just found this thread and will subscribe if you dont mind. I have just started a dmp and so really need to cut back, My shopping bill in the 3 months before christmas was over 750 for 2 adults a dog and 2 cats, this now has to reduce to £400, also with out credit cards there will be a lot more need to pull the apron strings tighter, I went shopping on saturday last week and bought a beautiful black work suit for £5.00, I work in the court system so need to wear black suits every day, I have lost 3 stone so looked ridiculous in the ones i have. I have advertised the old ones on facebook and ebay so hopefully when they sell i will have some funds to replenish my wardrobe, from the charity shop of course. I knit constantly , when not in work and so never need to buy any knit wear. So looking forward to learning from others how to make do and mend to get through this period.

HOWMUCH

Teeni well done on the weight loss and welcome.
Please could some one remind me how to post photo's I know cheerful did a post but I can not find it, thanks